TOKYO, Jan 27, (Xinhua): Over 2,000 people were forced to stay at New Chitose Airport from Monday night to Tuesday after record snowfall disrupted transport in Japan's northern prefecture of Hokkaido. Local media reported that more than 90 flights were canceled at the airport on Monday due to severe snow conditions. Airport authorities opened parts of the terminal overnight to accommodate stranded travelers.

Rail services were also badly affected. Local railway operators said that more than 170 train services were suspended on Tuesday, adding that some routes toward Hakodate and Asahikawa were unlikely to resume normal operations in the near term.

Hokkaido has been hit by persistent heavy snowfall in recent days. Up to 65 cm of snow fell in Sapporo, the capital of Hokkaido, in the 48 hours through 10 p.m. Monday, the highest level recorded since statistics began in 1999, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency.